Marine hat



July 22 1924.

J. E. MCWILLIAM MARINE HAT Filed March '7, 1923 jiwyewz'or: Jwzas Mfifiiam or nearly circular. It comprises a top por- Patented July 22, 1924,

. barren stares JAMES E. MCWILLIAM, OF NORTH OXFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

MARINE HAT.

Application filed March 7, 1923. Serial No. 623,373.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES E. MOWILLIAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Oxford, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Marine Hat, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a metallic hat capable of manyuses, but particularly adapted for use on boats and to be worn in case of fire or other emergency. It is also adapted for use as a miners cap.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a light and flexible metallic hat which will yield so much that only a small number of sizes need be manufactured; and to provide it with an electric lamp and means whereby when the hat is put on the lamp will be lighted automatically and will be extinguished automatically when the hatis taken off the head.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in whicli Fig. 1 is a side view of a hat constructed in accordance with this invention with parts broken away to show interior construction; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a detail.

The hat is formed of a sheet of thin aluminum shaped up in dies or otherwise formed into the desired shape which may be oval tion or crown 10 which is formed continuous all the way around and a lower portion 11 which is provided with longitudinal slits 12 so as to provide a series of tongues 13 integrally connected with the continuous crown 10. These tongues, being made of sheet aluminum, are flexible. They are also provided with circumferential corrugations 14 which add to their flexibility and hold the hat from sliding up and down on the head. They are capable of yielding so that a hat appearing considerably too small can be placed on the head and will be held there by the yielding nature of the tongues 13 which surround the head when the hat is worn. At the bottom the tongues are provided with an outward and upward roll 15 to finish the bottom edge and eliminate sharp edges. A spiral spring 19 is encased in this upward roll so as to keep the series of slitted tongues pressed against the head and in position at all times.

The crown 10 of the hat is shown high enough so that an electric lamp 20 and a dry operated switch, but I prefer to connect the switch with'one ormore of the tongues 13 in such a manner that when the hat is put. on the head, and these tongues are'sprung out and separated slightly, the switch will be closed thereby automatically. The light will burn as long as the hat is worn on the'head and will go out automatically when the hat is removed and the tongues automatically 1 spring back to normal position.

For the last named purpose I have connected one of the tongues, as for examplethe one at the front, with a rod 22. This is connected with a slide 23 so that when the hat is placed on the head the slide willbe forced forward thereby. On this slide is located a pin 24 having an electric'contact 25, its end projecting into the casing 21. This is so located that, when the hat is not worn and the tongues 13 are all in normal position, the contact 25 will be out of engagement with a second contact 26 on the battery, and the circuit from the battery to the lamp willbe broken, and no current will be conducted. But when the hat is placed on the head the outward motion of the tongue 13 to which the rod 22 is connected will close the contact and thereby supply the lamp with current from the battery. Obviously when the hat is removed, the contact will then be broken automatically. The slide 23 is supported by the pin 24. i i

This constitutes an improved safety device especially for use on ships, because in case of fire the electric lighting apparatus of the boat is liable to be put out of commission, and the officers and crew having these hats on will furnish all the light necessary at the points at which it is needed. The flexibility of the hat is such that only a few sizes will have to be made to fit all heads, and by mak ing it of thin sheet aluminum it will be very light and comfortable.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described but what'l' do claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, a hat formed of sheet metal having a continuous crown and a lower portion formed of a plurality of independent yielding tongues of sheet aluminum integral with the crown and free from each other at the bottom to permit adjustment ott'the size of the hat.

2. As an article'ot manufacture, a hat formed of sheet aluminum and comprising a series of parallel vertical independent tongues projecting downwardly. and to- 'gether constituting the bottom of the hat,

whereby said tongues will yield and permit the hat to be Worn on-heads of different sizes, said tongues being corrugated.

3. In a hat, the combination with a lower portion or band formed ofa series of sheet metal tonguesprojecting downwardly and i'i'id'e'pendently yIeldable, a crown having a battery casing therein and a lamp carried by the battery casing, an electric contact for connecting the lamp with the battery, and means connected with one of said tongues for controlling the opening and closing of said contact.

4. In a hat, the combination of a battery and lamp, an electric circuit connecting them provided with a normally open contact, a

'when the'hat isplaced on the head.

In "testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my "signature.

JAMES E. lVIoWILLIAl-vi, 

